Ka-Bar Black Cutlass Machete or Kershaw Camp 10?

T

The DC

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Mar 4, 2013
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I've got lots of brush (nothing too thick or heavy for these two,just lots of it) and briars behind the house I want to clear out while it's too cold to accidently step on a copperhead,LOL,and don't have much experience with machetes/similar. I've had good service from both Kershaw and Ka-Bar,and it seems these two are very similar in design,size,and price (they're both under $50 shipped on Amazon for eg). So.....which should I order? Does anyone have experience with either or both? Pros and cons of either? Much appreciation in advance for any advice or information :)
 
VERY cool review (with great pics too),thanks :D I'll have to click over and check the sites you mentioned,Amazon is asking almost $50 for it (which had me leaning towards the Ka-Bar...well,that and the great service I've had out of previous Ka-Bars,LOL...which they have for just a hair over $40) :D
 
Any way you could elaborate on that a bit? Haven't heard of that one,has no reviews on Amazon,but it's pretty close to budget ($12-15 higher than the two I asked about tho...). Thanks :)
 
Light as a feather compared to some of these heavier choppers. Means less fatigue. If you are clearing brush and not splitting wood, this is the way to go. Made out of tough tempered 1/8" thick L6. High-visibility orange plastic handle. What's not to like?

Cuts like a laser.
 
I know that this is a knife forum, But I've had much more luck with a pair of quality loppers than with a Machete or large knife.

Then again, you may mean something different than me when you say "briar"
 
LOL,I DO appreciate the suggestions,my friends...but does no one besides Halfneck have any info on the two I actually asked about? :p

(Mink,there may be a smallish tree or two in amongst the briars which would make the two I'd asked about a bit better choice).

Tell y'all what,I'll go out back and shoot a pic or two and show ya's what I'm gunna be clearing out in a few minutes :)
 
The DC said:
LOL,I DO appreciate the suggestions,my friends...but does no one besides Halfneck have any info on the two I actually asked about? :p
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Have info on those two for cutting light brush? Why would we? :cool: Overkill!
 
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I have the Kabar Cutlass Machete. It is a cool blade that I don't use much. I USE several.... Condor Golok and Pack Golok as well as a Village Parang. These are all bigger than the Cutlass Machete and cut better. If you have a lot of briars, I would suggest something longer with the Golok being about as short as I would go. The handle on the Golok and Village Parang are very hand friendly, but I would still wear gloves.

Don't know anything about the Kershaw Camp 10.
 
Of the two that you mention, I'd go with the Cutlass machete. The kershaw is actually much more of a large knife, and while large knives can chop, they're not very good at "clearing brush". That said, for clearing briars I'd be looking for something with more reach anyway.

I would go with an "actual" machete for things like that. The 18in tram should work well. I probably wouldn't go with anything smaller than a 14in, but then again, I really don't have much experience with machetes. All I know is that I've cleared a bit of brush with a 10in knife, and I'd never want to purchase something like that, for that express purpose.

Good luck with whatever you do :).
 
Marcineck: Oh gee,IDK,because it's the question that was actually asked maybe? A genuine question where someone was,oh,IDK,asking for some legitimate help...saying "those are overkill" might be a bit more help than ignoring because you assume that just because you know it's overkill that everyone else automatically does too ;) Doesn't matter anyways,turns out some of the stuff is a bit heavier than I remember,so move that "light" to moderate...
Part of it from the bottom looking up...



Once you're up there...


 
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I have the Cutlass. I love the damn thing, it's one of my knives that I will never get rid of, and I think everyone should have one. However, I'm not sure it sounds right for your application. It's on the short and heavy side; I use it for chopping and splitting wood. If you're looking to clear brush, I really don't think it's the right tool for that job, brother. Haven't come into contact with brush myself, but I've read more than a few threads that point towards a longer/lighter/thinner tool like a machete for that. I'm thinking something like an 18" Tramontina or 20" Imacasa is what you want. The bonus is that you'll pay a lot less than that KA-BAR.
 
22-rimfire said:
I have the Kabar Cutlass Machete. It is a cool blade that I don't use much. I USE several.... Condor Golok and Pack Golok as well as a Village Parang. These are all bigger than the Cutlass Machete and cut better. If you have a lot of briars, I would suggest something longer with the Golok being about as short as I would go. The handle on the Golok and Village Parang are very hand friendly, but I would still wear gloves.

Don't know anything about the Kershaw Camp 10.
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ocnLogan said:
Of the two that you mention, I'd go with the Cutlass machete. The kershaw is actually much more of a large knife, and while large knives can chop, they're not very good at "clearing brush". That said, for clearing briars I'd be looking for something with more reach anyway.

I would go with an "actual" machete for things like that. The 18in tram should work well. I probably wouldn't go with anything smaller than a 14in, but then again, I really don't have much experience with machetes. All I know is that I've cleared a bit of brush with a 10in knife, and I'd never want to purchase something like that, for that express purpose.

Good luck with whatever you do :).
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Thanks guys :)
 
BRL said:
I have the Cutlass. I love the damn thing, it's one of my knives that I will never get rid of, and I think everyone should have one. However, I'm not sure it sounds right for your application. It's on the short and heavy side; I use it for chopping and splitting wood. If you're looking to clear brush, I really don't think it's the right tool for that job, brother. Haven't come into contact with brush myself, but I've read more than a few threads that point towards a longer/lighter/thinner tool like a machete for that. I'm thinking something like an 18" Tramontina or 20" Imacasa is what you want. The bonus is that you'll pay a lot less than that KA-BAR.
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Cool,thanks...after walking up there and looking at it (for the first time in almost a year,LOL),I'm thinking maybe I should look into both (machete-like and chopper),or drag my ax up there for the chopping,bit of a mix of brush and bigger stuff too (IDK...I might get a wild hair and give the BK2 a workout on the bigger stuff,LOL). :)
 
The DC said:
Marcineck: Oh gee,IDK,because it's the question that was actually asked maybe?
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Oh gee, if you want to buy the wrong tool for the job you asked about advice for, feel free. But IDK, gee, you asked.

But BRL nailed it. Clearing brush is a machete job.
 
marcinek said:
Oh gee, if you want to buy the wrong tool for the job you asked about advice for, feel free. But IDK, gee, you asked.

But BRL nailed it. Clearing brush is a machete job.
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Well then....how does one know it's the wrong tool for the job if one doesn't ask...
 
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The Kabar Cutlass machete is more knife than machete. I would rather use it than an 12" Ontario machete which I have several. I went into a machete phase about two years ago and found the Condor Golok. The reason was I couldn't stand the 12" Ontario which I believed was the cat's meow when I bought one until the handles ate my hands up. Some like them however. The Condor Golok was "new" then and they sell like crazy. They come with a great leather sheath which is not true of many machetes. But I actually use the Condor Pack Golok the most now and just got the Condor Village Parang. They are just really cool and very effective choppers. I have thinner machetes too but I am not into the 22" hawgs.
 
Good thoughts on those,I'll Google them (or info them on Amazon-not having seen them to know what they are off the top of my head) and see what I'm looking at,thanks,Brother :)
 
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